Parent's Guide: Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy - Age rating, mature content and difficulty

What is Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy?

The Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy is an old school platforming collection of the first three Crash Bandicoot games - Crash Bandicoot, Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back and Crash Bandicoot: Warped - which originally appeared on the Playstation 1. Now with enhanced graphics and all together on one disc, you can run, jump and spin your way through three of the famous marsupial's best games, saving the world from the nefarious Dr. Neo Cortex each time.

How do you play Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy?

One of the most well known platformers of all time, all three Crash Bandicoot games play pretty similarly, as you get to take control of Crash, and guide him through the level from start to finish, along what's effectively a giant obstacle course of sorts that takes in everything from bottomless pits and moving platforms, to rolling boulders and a quick game of whack-a-mole. Some levels see Crash riding on the back of a polar bear/tiger cub, constantly running forwards and leaving you to steer him left or right, around various enemies, obstacles and other hazards. While your primary goal is simply to get to the end of each stage, each level does have a number of crates to find and smash - get them all (preferably without dying along the way) and you'll be awarded a special gem which will open up hidden routes in other levels for you to explore.

How easy is Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy to pick up and play?

Despite its brightly-coloured and cartoon-ish exterior, Crash Bandicoot is a surprisingly challenging platformer, particularly if you're going for all the collectable crates etc. Many sections require near pixel-perfect leaps, well timed jumps and cautious steps, and often you'll find yourself dying over and over at a tricky section, until you memorise it enough to pass it. Crash himself dies as soon as he takes a hit, be it from an enemy crab, a flaming torch or a falling spike, so you don't really have a lot of leeway either. Fortunately, lives are relatively plentiful, and even a game over will only take you back to the start of a level - a stark contrast to how things were originally. Die in the same section too many times, and the game will take pity on you, giving you an Aku Aku mask, which allows you to take an extra hit before dying - something which may prove to be the difference maker in whether you can finish a level or not.

For the youngest of players, the game itself is relatively light on text too - cutscenes are fully-voiced (although with no subtitle support), and the only real textual prompts you'll come across are the 'hints' on loading screens. Generally fairly inconsequential though, it's perfectly possible to get by without reading them at all, with only the very occasional hint giving you a useful prompt as to what to do in a level, particularly in the case of boss fights.

Sample Sentences:

• "Spinning TNT is deadly. Jump on it instead."
• "Direct attacks don't hurt him."
• "Break every box without dying to earn a special gem."

All in all, Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy is a pretty family-friendly affair - there's no bad language, no sex scenes and no blood and gore whatsoever. Violence is limited to the fairly slapstick, such as Crash jumping on giant enemy crabs, penguins and skunks to make them disappear, or spin attacking them to send them flying into the distance. Messing up in a level will see Crash himself 'die' - perhaps flopping down in some water, being run over by a boulder Tom & Jerry style or being squashed flat by a falling block - it's all very slapstick and he simply respawns straight after, seemingly unharmed, to have another go.

Age Ratings

Format Reviewed: Playstation 4